User Manual White Dwarf Map Editor

User Manual

White Dwarf Map Editor

c©Comfort Eagle

User Manual

White Dwarf Map Editor

Table of Contents

1 Preface 1

2 Introduction 1

2.1 What is White Dwarf? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

2.2 What is a Map Editor? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

3 A Little Terminology 1

4 Getting Started 2

4.1 Installing White Dwarf Map Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

4.2 Starting White Dwarf Map Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

5 Using White Dwarf Map Editor 3

5.1 Interface Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

5.2 Creating a Scenario using the Scenario Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

5.3 Creating an Episode using the Episode Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

5.4 Creating/Editing a Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

5.5 Creating a Formation using the Formation Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

5.6 Creating a Player using the Player Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

5.7 Saving Your Work for the First Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

6 Using White Dwarf Map Editor Advanced Features 7

6.1 Opening an Existing Scenario . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

6.2 Creating/Editing an Episode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

6.3 Creating/Editing a Formation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

6.4 Importing a Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

6.5 Importing an Image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

6.6 Using the Scenario Tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

5

User Manual–White Dwarf Map EditorLIST OF FIGURES

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List of Figures

1 Welcome Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2 White Dwarf Map EditorInterface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

3 Create Scenario Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

4 Scenario Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

5 Episode Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

6 Chapter Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

7 Formation Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

8 Player Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

9 Episode Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

10 Formation Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

11 Sound Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

12 Image Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

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User Manual–White Dwarf Map Editor1 Preface

1 Preface

This manual describes the basic operations that can be accomplished using the White Dwarf Map Editor.The manual is intended to teach the users on how to properly use the most important features of theMap Editor, rather than discuss all of its functionalities.

2 Introduction

This section will inform the new users on some of the basic concepts that are required for a correct under-standing of the White Dwarf Map Editor product.

2.1 What is White Dwarf?

White Dwarf is the name of the game for which the White Dwarf Map Editor is written. The WhiteDwarf Game is a multiplayer sidescrolling space shooter. The objective of the game is to traverse each levelin a space ship by defeating the enemies and avoiding any obstacles in the way. The difficulty of each levelwill increase as the journey goes on.

2.2 What is a Map Editor?

A Map Editor is the tool needed by the players to construct their own scenarios. If you do not know what ascenario is yet, do not worry Section 3 will explain the terminology. For the moment, think of scenarios ascontainers. They hold information about the behaviors, the sounds and the images present throughout thegame.

Using the Map Editor, custom scenarios of any degree of difficulty can be created. In fact, you will haveaccess to the same editor used by the White Dwarf Game creators which was used to create the scenariosprovided with the game. In other words, you’ll gain access to the same tools so you will be able to create newand exciting scenarios, or edit existing ones to your own liking. Once you have created your own scenarios,you can share them with the rest of the world.

3 A Little Terminology

State A combination of circumstances and attributes belonging for the time being to an actor. For example,an actor that is currently firing a bullet is considered to be in the firing state. An image and a soundare associated with each state.

Actor An object that is displayed on the screen. For example, actors can be ships, bullets or items. Eachactor has a type, energy level, weapon and state.

Player A group of one or more actors controlled as a single entity by the player. For example, a formationcan be used to regroup many ships into a formation of ships that flies together following a diamondshape or to create a ship constituted by many parts.

Formation Equivalent to a player but controlled by an artificial intelligence (i.e. computer).

Chapter A playable section of the game. The chapters contain the various formations that will be encoun-tered during the game journey and also various properties such as the displayed background and thescrolling speed. It is important to note that chapters are not aware of the notion of actors. Therefore,to add one or more actors to the game they must be grouped together into a player or formation.Furthermore, it is important to know that the transition between two chapters is invisible during thegame and that chapters are useful to create minor visual change.

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User Manual–White Dwarf Map Editor4 Getting Started

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Episode A group of consecutive chapters. As opposed to chapters, the transition between two episodes isvisible. Episodes are equivalent to the notion of level presented in many games.

Scenario A collection of episodes, chapters, formations, actors, players, images and sounds. A scenario isused to contain all the components that must be present to create a set of maps that can be loaded,edited and saved in the White Dwarf Map Editor and played in White Dwarf Game.

4 Getting Started

This section is intended to guide you through the initial steps required to start using the White Dwarf Map Ed-itor, such as installing and launching the application.

4.1 Installing White Dwarf Map Editor

The installation of the application should be straightforward by following the steps described below.

Step 1: Insert the White Dwarf Map Editor CD-ROM in the appropriate drive of your computer.

Step 2: On the CD-ROM locate the file called wdsetup.exe and double click on it.

Step 3: From the Extract Dialog that appeared, click on the Browse button.

Step 4: From the File Dialog that appeared select the folder where you want the White Dwarf Map Edi-tor to be installed and click on the Ok button.

Step 5: In the installation folder that you specified you will find a file called WDMapEditor.exe and a foldercalled samples that contains some sample scenarios.

4.2 Starting White Dwarf Map Editor

Starting the application should be straightforward by following the steps described below.

Step 1: Browse in the folder where you installed the White Dwarf Map Editor.

Step 2: Double click on the file called wdmapeditor.exe to launch the application.

Step 3: The application is now running and displays a friendly welcome wizard.

Figure 1: Welcome Wizard


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User Manual–White Dwarf Map Editor5 Using White Dwarf Map Editor

5 Using White Dwarf Map Editor

This section will present an overview on how to use to basic functions provided by White Dwarf Map Editor.It will mostly provide an overview of the different wizards included in the application to facilitate its use. Italso provides a tour of the interface.

5.1 Interface Overview

This section will present the different components used to navigate in the White Dwarf Map Editor.

Figure 2: White Dwarf Map EditorInterface

Scenario Tree Display the different objects present in the scenario in a tree form.

Object Form Display the information for a particular object in the scenario.

Wizard Display the information for a particular object in the scenario in a simplified manner.

5.2 Creating a Scenario using the Scenario Wizard

Creating and editing a scenario using the Scenario Wizard should be straightforward by following the stepsdescribed below.



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Step 1: From the File menu, select New to bring up the Create Scenario Dialog.

Figure 3: Create Scenario Dialog

Step 2: From the Create Scenario Dialog, select Scenario Wizard to bring up the Scenario Wizard.

Figure 4: Scenario Wizard

Step 3: Follow the instructions given by the Scenario Wizard to create the scenario.

5.3 Creating an Episode using the Episode Wizard

Creating an episode using the Episode Wizard should be straightforward by following the steps describedbelow.

Step 1: From the Scenario menu, select Episode Wizard to bring up the Episode Wizard.


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Figure 5: Episode Wizard

Step 2: Follow the instructions given by the Episode Wizard to create the episode.

5.4 Creating/Editing a Chapter

Creating a chapter using the Chapter Form should be straightforward by following the steps described below.

Step 1: In the Scenario Tree, select the episode in which the chapter is to be inserted.

Step 2: From the Scenario menu, select New Chapter to bring up a Chapter Form.

Figure 6: Chapter Form



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Step 3: In the Chapter Form enter the name of the newly created chapter. The name given among differentchapters must be unique.

Step 4: In the Chapter Form enter the optional information as desired.

5.5 Creating a Formation using the Formation Wizard

Creating a formation using the Formation Wizard should be straightforward by following the steps describedbelow.

Step 1: From the Scenario menu, select Formation Wizard to bring up the Formation Wizard.

Figure 7: Formation Wizard

Step 2: Follow the instructions given by the Formation Wizard to create the formation.

5.6 Creating a Player using the Player Wizard

Creating a player using the Player Wizard should be straightforward by following the steps described below.

Step 1: From the Scenario menu, select Player Wizard to bring up the Player Wizard.


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User Manual–White Dwarf Map Editor6 Using White Dwarf Map Editor Advanced Features

Figure 8: Player Wizard

Step 2: Follow the instructions given by the Player Wizard to create the player.

5.7 Saving Your Work for the First Time

Saving your scenario should be straightforward by following the steps described below.

Step 1: From the File menu, select Save to bring up a Save Dialog.

Step 2: From the Save Dialog, choose the name of the file where to save the scenario and press the Savebutton.

6 Using White Dwarf Map Editor Advanced Features

This section will present a description of the most advanced features provided by White Dwarf Map Editor.It will mostly provide an explanation of the different object forms present in the application.

6.1 Opening an Existing Scenario

Opening an existing scenario should be straightforward by following the steps described below.

Step 1: From the File menu, select Open to bring up the Open Scenario Dialog.

Step 2: From the Open Scenario Dialog, select the scenario file to be opened and click on the Ok button.

Step 3: The information present in the selected scenario is loaded in the application.



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6.2 Creating/Editing an Episode

Creating and editing an episode using the Episode Form should be straightforward by following the stepsdescribed below.

Step 1: From the Scenario menu, select New Episode to bring up a Episode Form.

Figure 9: Episode Form

Step 2: In the Episode Form enter the name of the newly created episode. The name given among thedifferent episodes must be unique.

Step 3: In the Scenario Form you can add chapters to your episode as desired.

6.3 Creating/Editing a Formation

Creating and editing a formation using the Formation Form should be straightforward by following the stepsdescribed below.

Step 1: From the Scenario menu, select New Formation to bring up a Formation Form.


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Figure 10: Formation Form

Step 2: In the Formation Form enter the name of the newly created formation. The name given to thedifferent formations must be unique.

Step 3: In the Formation Form you can set the optional information as desired.

Step 4: In the Formation Form you can add actors to your formation as desired.

6.4 Importing a Sound

Importing a sound using the Image Form should be straightforward by following the steps described below.

Step 1: From the Scenario menu, select Import Sound to bring up a Sound Form.

Figure 11: Sound Form



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Step 2: In the Sound Form click on the Browse button to bring up a File Dialog.

Step 3: In the File Dialog select the sound to import and click on the Ok button.

6.5 Importing an Image

Importing a image using the Image Form should be straightforward by following the steps described below.

Step 1: From the Scenario menu, select Import Image to bring up a Image Form.

Figure 12: Image Form

Step 2: In the Image Form enter the name of the newly imported image.

Step 3: In the Image Form click on the Browse button to bring up the File Dialog.

Step 4: In the File Dialog select the image to import and click on the Ok button.

6.6 Using the Scenario Tree

All the tasks described in Section 5.4 and Section 6 can also be accomplished using the Scenario Tree byfollowing the following steps:

Step 1: From the Scenario Tree right click on the item associated with the action you want to perform.For example, if you want to add a chapter then you must select an episode.

Step 2: From the context menu select the desired function.


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User Manual White Dwarf Map Editor